Process of sterilization.



R. A'. KIEFER.

PROCESS OFSTBRILIZATION. APPLICATION FILED 11110.16, 1911. RENBWBD 0012-8, 1912.

u 12062,'404. f Patented May 2o, 191:1.v

2 SEEETS-SHEBT 1.

R. A. KIEFER.

l PROCESS OF STERILIZATIN. APPLIOATIONIILBD DBo.1.1911. BENEWBD ooT.,1o1'2,

Patented May 20, 191-3.

'attaching to the article.

ltill provide a cle from the apparatus emploped, method further contemplating a recom or seminarios.

ematica.

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rasantes May eo, isis.

applicants nea neoember 1e, ien, serial ne. esame. Renewed-came: e, me. sei-iai no. veters.

ToaZZ whom it may concern.' l v .Be itknownthat. I, RAYMOND A. Kmran, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of -Ramse ,inthe county of Bergen .and State of llew Jersey,have made and 1nvented certainv new and useful `-lmprove ments in Processes of Sterilizatiomof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved process of sterilizing or disinfecting articles, such, for instance, as drinking cups, glasses, bottles, etc. Heretofore in the sterilization of such articles, particularlywhere the sterilizing agent or medium is in the :torni of a as, it has been the common practice to sub- Ject the artic/loto the action of the gaseous germicide in a'closed chamber to permit it to 'remain there for the re uisite length of time, then to remove iii, a owing the gas from the sterilizing' chamber to escape into .the'atmosphera and `nally, by washing or other second treatment, to remove the odor objectionable for many reasons, particularly because of the eat Waste of the sterilizing mediumg secon ly, Ibecause oftheobjectionable odor, and the ieti'ect of the as upon those engaged ini the work, and thirdly, because such method is necessarily a slowand expensive one.

The object of the present invention is tof provide a method which may be carried on either continuousl or intermittently, as desired, and where y the work may be carried on without permitting the escape of as .into the surrounding atmosphere, or into the room \wherein the Work is performed, and thereby prevent the loss or Waste'of the sterilizing medium.

A further object of the invention is to method wherein the odor, attaching to the article after being subjected to the sterilizing agent, shall be removed or neutralized prior to the removal of the arzlit e vantages hereinafter fully described. l

It will be understood, of course, thatl the process may be carried` on by means of various forms, or t pes of apparatus, the construct-ion 'of suc depending somewhat upon the nature of the article to be treated, and whether the process is intended to be continuous or intermittent.

v In the accompanying drawings, I Vhave This process is illustrated one form of apparatus designed for the sterilization of drinking glasses, the several steps in the process being carried on continuously and automatically.

nthese drawin Figure l is a side elevation of 'the ster' izing device embodied in the present invention; Fig. 2 an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 a transverse section through the Work-case on line wenn, Figfg' Fig. 4 1s a partial sectional ground plan of the gas chamber, showing means for intro ducing the work therein. y

Numeral l designates a closed vgas chamber, provided wit a'couvenientA source of gas suppl as indicated by the pi e connection 2. he Jfront wall of the c amber is formed with projecting mouths 3 and 4, respectively constituting passages for the introduction and the discharge of the work.

0n one side of each mouth exteriorly ot the chamber, is formed inlet-connections 5, leading to an inner annular recess 6, which communicates with aninterior perforated annular lining 7 shown in section in Fig. 2, through which air or gas is periodically admitted in a distributed manner to the ccntral work-passage. For periodically opening and closing the passages on their inner or chamber side, doors 8 and 9 are 4provided within the chamber, and are supported for a yieldingly slidable movement upon stems xed' to the arms l0, the latter being secured to rock-shafts 11, mounted in bearings formed in the wall of the chamber and provided exteriorly of the chamber with actuating arms 12, motion being communicated thereto through the connection rods 13 and rollers 14 from the cams 15 and 16, fixed upon the rotatable cam-shaft 17. At each revolution of the cam-shaft, .the doors are adapted to be alternately opened and closed, the latte-r movement effecting a seating action of the doors against their corresponding packing-rings 18, secured in annular recesses in the work-passages, thev seating .action maintaining a close gas-tight joint for the door through the action of the compression springs 19, interposedbetween the doo-rs and their supporting-arms. Extending outwardly from the front wall of the chamber, are bearings 20, supporting `for rocking movement a tubular shaft- 21, upon which is fixed between the bearings an arm .22, integrally formed with the work-cases .23 and 24, the former adapted to receive the sage 30, extending centrally through the l arm and leading to the bore of the tubular shaft 21, by which communication is had through the xed pipe 31 to the suctionpump 32, a slip connection 33, of wellknown form, being interposed between the adjacent ends of the fixed pipe. 31 and the tubularl rockshaft-.2l, the opposite end of the latter being closed to the atmosphere.

For imparting a rocking movement to the arm 22, a gear-section 34 is fixed upon the hub of the former surrounding the rockshaft 21, and meshing with the gear-section is a gear-segment 35, pivotally mounted by the pm 36to the xed boss 37. A lever-arm 38 is integrally formed with the gear-segment 35, and is provided at its freeend with an extended boss 39, carrying a roller 40, which is engaged by a cam 41, fixed upon the cam-shaft' 17 -the'latter acting through the several mem ers at each revolution to raise and lower the arm 22. In its lower position, as shown in full lines, the free end ofthe work-case 24 is seated against an annular gasket 42, secured in a recess formed in the projecting mouth 4, 'and is adapted to form a gas-tight joint therewith. In the upper position of the arm 22, the work-case 23 assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines, and forms a close joint with the mouth 3 in a manner similar to that of case 24. During the upward and downward movement of the arm and connected workcases, the valve 28 remains inoperative with the passages 26 and 27 cut oif as shown. For effect-ing the timely operation of this valve, a lever 43 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a stud 44, fixed to the arm 22, the outer end of the lever being provided with a slot which engages a crank-pin 45, fixed in the end of a crank 46, integrally formed on the larger end of the tapering valve-plug 28, a nut and washer being provided for the opposite end thereof in the usual manner to position the same within the case. The opposite or inner end of lever 43 ispivo-tally connected to an actuating-link 47, `the pivotal center in its central position of movement coinciding with the axis of rockshaft 21 and corresponding with the cut-A off position of valve to permit the movementof arm 22 in opposite directions without alecting the operative position of the valve. For the necessary movement of the latter at the extreme positions of the arm 22, as hereinafter set forth, the opposite end of the actuating-link 47 is pivoted to one end of a bell-crank lever 48, mounted to rock upon a fixed stud 49, the opposite end of the bell-crank carrying a roller arranged to engage a cam 50, fixed upon the shaft 17, the cam bein so shaped that at each Vrevolution thereof te lever/43 is actuated to effect an alternate communication of the passages 26 and 27 with the passage 30.

For supporting and positioning the articles to be treated within the work-cases, forms 51 are provided, surrounding and carried by the cent-ral tubes 25. The shape of theseforms corresponds with the interior shape of the treated articles, which, as herein shown, consists of the conical drinkingglasses 52. The external surface of the lforms are provided with air-channels 53 which lead to the tubes 25 and serve to direct the How of air. or gas against the inner surface of the articles, the forms being also adapted to provide a passage for said iiow entirely around the articles /by suitably supporting the latter in spaced relation to the walls of the work-cases.

Within the as-chamber a work-carrier is provided consisting of an endless chain or band 54, supported upon a series of wheels 55, mounted upon studs or shafts carried by the walls of the chamber. Upon the chains are xed a plurality f similarly-constructed and equally-spaced iwork-holders 56, each comprising a spring lmetal supporting-bandl ing manner. The direction of movement of p the carrier is indicated by the arrows, the same presentlng a vertical path adjacent the mouths or work-passages formed in the ,front wall of the gas chamber, the spacing of which passages conforms with the position -of the work-holders to facilitate the transfer ofthe work to and from the latter. Intermittent movement is provided for the carrier by means of the wheel 55, which is `fixed upon theshaft 59, rotatably mounted in and extending through the front wall of the chamber. A small gear-wheel 60 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft, exterior of the chamber, and is engaged by a larger gear 61, loosely mounted upon the fixed stud 62, upon which is also loosely mounted a rockerarm 63, and a ratchet-wheel 64, the latter being xed to and rotatable with the large gear 61. For actuating the ratchet-wheel, a pawl is hinged tothe upper leg of rockerarm 63, the si e -leg of the latter'being provided with a xed projecting pin 66 which in turn is engaged by a slotted side driving,- lug 67, formed on the vertically-reciprocating connection-rod 68. At its u per end the connection rod is provided with a, stem 69,

j* arrangedtosliden a block 70, fixed to the' ward movement of the connection-rod, the.

Locate-1L` front wall of the chamber, and rat its lower end the connection-rod is providedwith a fork 7l, which slidingly embraces the camshaft 17. A roller 72 is mounted upon the connection-rod for engagement by a cam 73, fixed to the shaft 17 the latter at each revolution serving by theaction of the caml to positively raise the connection-rod and allowing it to fall by gravity. At each upr'atchet-wheel 64 and its connected gear 61 are partially rotated, the movement ofthe latter serving `to rotate the small gear 60` and thevcarrier-wheel 55a for "the advancement of the work-holders van amount equal to the distance of the spacing thereof upon the chain( s For introducing and discharging the work to and'from the vgas-chamber, reciprocating finger-rodsV 74 and 75 are employed which are fixed upon heads 76, mounted to slide upon the rods 77 fixed interiorly of the chamber upon the end wall 1" by the brackets 78. The upper finger-rod 74 is reciprovcated at its head 76 througha pivotallyconnected link-79 a'lso connected by a pivot to the upperend of ,an actuating arm 80,

' fixedlysecured within the chamber upona .extending through the end wall 1b.

the outer end ofthe rock-shaft,` exterior of short rock-shaft 81, mounted to turn in and the chamber, a crank 82 is fixed 'which is pivotally "connect-ed at its free end to a -forked connection-rod 83, arranged to embrace a shaft .84, rotatably mounted in a bearing suitably supported from the endlwall.

A roller 85 is carried by the-forked rod 83 and is engaged by a cam 86,' which is fixed upon the shaft 84 and serves through the above connections to reciprocate the up'- per finger-rod once at each revolution of the shaft. `In like manner the lower linger-rod 75 is reciprocate'd from the shaft 84 by the similarly arranged cam 87, roller 88, forked connection-rod 89, crank 90, rock-shaft 91,

actuating-arm 92, and link 93. For supporting the work in its passage between .the carrier and work-cases, guide-frames are provided, each consisting of a series of wires 56, connected together by a band 57, the latter being fixed by a bracket 58a.

\ Rotary motion is imparted to the camshaft 84 by a gear 94, which receives' its movement through a ser-ies of reductiongears 95, 96, 97, the latter gear being fixed to belt-wheel 98, with which it is arranged to run loose upon a stud 99, xed to the end wall of the chamber,'the gears 95 and 96 being likewise xed togethervand arranged to run loose upon a fixed stud` 100. The belt-wheel 98 is driven by the belt 101 from the wheel 102, fixed upon the shaft of the motor 103, which also drives the suctionpump 32 by means of the belt 104. Motion is also communicated to cam-shaft 17 by its fixed gear 105, which` is ,engaged by the gear 94, secured upon cam-shaft `84. l These two cam-shafts are driven at a common rate' v of speed, and the cams thereon are so shaped and timed thatat each' revolution thereof a glass is introduced and discharged to and from the` gas-chamber in the' following order: As indicated in the drawings, the.

upper work-passage 3 of the gas-chamber has been-closedby the inside door 8, the

work-case 23 is in its lowermost position, with an untreated glass `inserted bottomupwardtherein, the carrier within the gas-y I.

chamber is at rest, its actuating connectionrod68 being idle, or in its downward4 or return movement, the work-case '24 is seated' against the lower work-passage 4, the, inner door 9 thereof having been opened toadmit a glass from the carrier.' Upon the continued movement of the cam-shafts, the lower finger-rod 75 is returned to its backward position to later engage the bottom of a succeeding glass, the door 9 is closed against its seat, an the valve 28 is moved to `make communication between the passages 27 and 30, permit-ting theaction" of the rotary suction-pump 32, which causes a circulation-of ,l

air or gas-through the` workcase 24, ad-' mitted through the perforatedlining 7 and inlet 5 of the mouth 4, and the exterior admission-pipe 106 and check-valve107. 3After a sufficient quantity of air or` gas has been upon` a convenient rack or runway, not

shown.. After` thework-case 23 is securely seated, the door 8 is opened, and the glass Withiny the case yis transferred to the adjacent vwork-holderI on the carrier by the finger-rod 74; thedoor is then closed and the sterilizing /gas previously 'admitted lto the case is removed therefrom by the circulation of air effected by the movement of the valve 28, connecting the passages 30 and.

26 leading from the suction-pump, which causes the check-,valve 108 to raise and admit air through the pipe 106. Upon the complete removalof the effect of the sterilizing agent from the case, the valve is again moved to its cut-od' position to arrest the circulation of the air, and the case is lowered to its original position for the reception of a new glass, while case' 24 is at the same time seated against the lower mouth 4. Also after the closing of the door 8, the carrier containing the work to be treated is advanced by the upward /movement of conico ros

- nection-rod 68 to present a successive empty work-holder `to the upper mouth or workpassage 3, and a succeive holder carrying 'a treated glass to the lower mouth 4j The cover 9 forthis lower mouth isthen opened, and the treated glass is transferred from the holder through the mouth into the lower work-case by the finger-rod 75, which ention 2 as leading from a source of gas-supply, it is to b e understood that any approved form of gas-generator-,may be employed for thev production of any suitable kind of gas.

fore described forms no Also, the generator may be located within the gas-chamber and utilized to heat the same if required, or the heating thereof may be effected independently of the generator.

Depending upon the nature of the sterilizing agent employed, the admission-pipey 10.6 may either be left open to the atmosphere for a supplyy of ordinary air for clearmgthe work-cases, or the pipe may be led from a source of neutralizing as adapted to combine or mix with the sterizing agent to effect the latters removal and deodorization.

In order to thoroughly remove any and all traces of the sterilizing gas from the article after being treated, `I prefer to connect the pipe 106- to a suitable source of supply of gas orvapor such, for instance, as ammonia, or the vaporized essential oils, particularly, in the event of the use of formaldehyde gas as the sterilizing medium, as it is almost impossible to remove the traces of such by exposing 'the articles to the atmosphere only exceptfor a considerable length of time.

As before stated, the apparatus hereinbeart of my present invention, but has been lllustrated-and described as one means for carrying into practice the method forming the subject matte'r of this application, which consists briefly in subjectingthe article to the action of a gaseous germicidein a closed chamber, trans,

ferring the article with a small tion of the gas fromsaid Acham into a second closed chamber,

art` or porer odirectly then removmg from the second chamber the gas which has.` escaped thereinto from the first-mentioned chamber,- and finally subjecting the article in the second closed chamber to the action of a neutralizing innocuous gas to' remove all traces of odor attaching to the article prior to its removal-into the atmosphere. f

What I claim is z'- 1. The sterilizing process hereinbefore described, consisting in first, subjectingthe articleto be treated to a gaseous germicide in a closed chamber; secondly, removing the article from said chamber with a portion of thegas to a second chamber, and finally removing the gas from said secondchamber to -deodorize the article; v

2. The sterilizing' process hereinbefore` ferring the article with a portion of the gas to a second chamber and finally withdrawmg thel as from said second chamber and neutralizmg the odor attaching to the article. 3. The process 'of sterilizing which-consists in su jecting an article to be treated to the action of a gaseous germicide within a closed chamber, transferring the article from said chamber to a second closed chamber, and'removing residual germicide from the article while it remainswithin said second chamber.

4. The prrocess of sterilizing which consists in su jecting an article to be treated to the action of gaseous germicide within a closed chamber, transferrlng the article from said chamber tofa second'closed chamber, re-

moving the gaseous germicide from" said second chamber, and establishing a ow of innocuous gas past the article while the latter is in said second chamber. y

5. The process of sterilizing which consists in subjecting an article to be treated to the action of a gaseous germicide within a closed chamber, transferring the article fromsaid chamber to a second closed chamber, exhausting the 'gaseous germicide from said second chamber, and establishing a fiow of air past the article while the latter is in said second chamber.

' 6. The process of sterilizing Whichconsists in subjecting an article to be treatedto the action of a gaseous germicide within a closed chamber, transferring the article from said chamber to a second closed chamber, and

establishing'a flowof air through said second chamber and past the article.l

7. The process of sterilizing which consists in subjecting an article to be treated to the action of a gaseous germicide within a closed chamber; transferring the artlcle from said chamber to a second chamber, and subjecting the article to an innocuous gas while 1t remains within said second chamber.

8'. The process of sterilizing which consists in subjecting an article to be treated to the action of'a gaseous germicide Within a from said chamber to a second closed chamber, withdrawing the gaseous germicide from.

said second chamber, and subjecting the ar- 'closed chamber, transferring the article from 120, closed chamber, transferring the article.

said chamber to a' second chamber, and establishing a flow of innocuous gas past the sists in introducing articles to e treated in succession into a closed chamber, supplying' a gaseous germicide to vsaid chamber to maintain a substantially constant quantity of such therein, transferring the articles in succession from said chamber to a second closed chamber, and removing residual gcrmicide from the article while it remains within said second chamber.

'11. The process of sterilizing which consists in introducing articles to be treated in successionI into a closed chamber, supplying a gaseous vgermicide to' said chamber to maintain a substantially constant quantity of'such therein, transferring the. articles in succession from' said chamber to a second closed chamber, and exhausting the gaseous germicide from said second chamber.

12. The process of sterilizing which consists in introducing articles to be treated in which consuccession into a closed chamber, supplying a gaseous germicide to said chamber to maintain a substantially constant quantity of such therein, transferrin the articles in succession from said cham r to a second (closed chamber, removing residual germieide from about each article in succession while it remains within said second chamber, and establishing a ow of innocuous gas' through said second chamber and past each article as it remains therein. v Y

13. The sterilizing process vhereinbefore described consisting in iirst subjecting the article to be treated to a gaseous germicide in a closedwessel, secondly in transferring the article directly to a second chamber, and finally treating the article while in said second chamberv to deodorize the same.

genfand State of New' Jersey, this 12th day of December, A. D. 1911.

RAYMOND A. KIEFER.

Witnesses: Y

W. J. C-A'DRSHORE, Jr.,

SIETH WANAMAKER.

Signed at Ramsey, in the countymf Ber-i 

